City seeks old Navy ship

Retired destroyer would become floating museum to attract visitors.

Retired destroyer would become floating museum to attract visitors.

January 04, 2008

BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) -- A floating naval museum could eventually lure up to 83,000 visitors to the Saginaw River and give a boost to Michigan's economy. A marketing study says the USS Edson will become a "substantive addition" to tourism in the Bay City area and the state if the U.S. Navy approves the donation, The Bay City Times reported. By the third year, visitors to the ship at Bangor Township's Independence Park would generate more than $790,000 in tax revenue a year for the state and nearly $426,000 in local taxes, according to the study by Lexington, Ky.-based marketing research firm Certec Inc. The firm also completed an economic impact analysis for Bay City's proposed maritime heritage center. It also is projected to help create about 115 jobs. The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum also could see annual revenues of more than $540,000. The retired destroyer, which dates to 1956, will cost nothing if the U.S. Navy approves donating it. About $600,000 has been raised by the Bay County Growth Alliance for the project. The economic development organization hopes to raise more than $1.6 million to help with pier improvements and fuel costs in towing the ship from Philadelphia. "The return on investment is just absolutely great," Bay County Growth Alliance president Clifford Van Dyke told the newspaper. The project is receiving a $25,000 Dow Chemical Co. grant. The Kantzler Foundation has doubled its pledge to $100,000. The group expects to have an answer from the Navy in May. If approved, the USS Edson could arrive in Bay City by next summer. A Wisconsin group also is seeking the more than 50-year-old vessel.